Tales from the Hindu Dramatists eBook

Duryodhana is discovered concealed in a swamp, and
compelled to fight with Bhimasena, by whom he is slain.
Yudhisthira orders public rejoicings on the occasion.

Charvaka, a Rakshasa disguised as a sage, then enters,
requiring rest and water. He relates that he
has seen Arjuna engaged with Duryodhana, Bhima having
been previously slain by the latter, and gives his
hearers to understand that Arjuna also has fallen.
Draupadi determines to mount the funeral pile, and
Yudhishthira, to put an end to himself when the Rakshasa,
satisfied with the success of his scheme, which was
intended to prevail on this couple to perish, departs.
The pile is prepared, and Yudhishthira and Draupadi
are about to sacrifice themselves, when they are disturbed
by a great clamour. Supposing it to precede the
approach of Duryodhana, Yudhishthira calls for his
arms, when Bhima, his club besmeared with blood, rushes
in. Draupadi runs away; he catches her by the
hair, and is seized by Yudhishthira—­on which
the mistake is discovered.

The braid of Draupadi’s hair is now again bound
up. Arjuna and Vasudeva arrive, and announce
that they have heard of the fraud of Charvaka.
On hearing that the mendicant is slain by Nakula,
Krishna expresses great satisfaction.

CHANDA KAUSIKA

OR

THE OFFENDED VISWAMITRA.

Maharaja Harischandra, a scion of the solar race,
a powerful king, endowed with uncommon virtues and
skilled in all arts, sees a vision of misfortune to
come. Apprehending future evils for his subjects,
he confers with his priest, and acting on his advice,
spends a whole night in religious contemplation in
a temple of God. Next morning the king enters
the inner apartments of his palace to greet his wife.
The queen, who is jealous on account of his absence
during the night, says to him, “Oh! I see
your eyes are red for want of sleep. The sight
is not uninteresting; only, I am being consumed with
the fires of agony of mind.” The king,
on hearing this, smiles and says, “Oh my dear
queen! do not be angry. Be assured, you have
no rival in Harischandra’s affections”.

The queen is not altogether satisfied with this assurance,
for love is suspicious. Just then, a messenger
comes to request permission to bring in a hermit who
is standing at the door. The permission is granted
and the hermit enters. Addressing the King, he
says, “The family priest has sent you some holy
water, which will bring you peace of mind and ward
off the evils for fear of which he made you keep up
a whole night.” The king and the queen
thankfully accept the water. The hermit retires.
The queen, now learning from the hermit the cause
of her husband’s absence from her, and of his
wakefulness all night, becomes ashamed of herself
and asks her lord’s pardon for the false insinuation
she had made. On this he kisses the queen.